New Super Mario Bros. 2 has been available for just several months, but Nintendo today announced that gamers around the world collected more than 300 billion gold coins playing the game on the Nintendo 3DS. As of this writing, the figure now stands around 321 billion; neither Bowser (nor Scrooge McDuck, for that matter) were available for comment.

As a token of appreciation for players achieving this milestone and developing premature arthritis, Nintendo noted that anyone with the game and a Nintendo 3DS can now download a free set of three Coin Rush levels -- inspired by Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3. The free download will only be available until January 31, and then will reappear on February 1 for $2.50.

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"Nintendo fans have once again demonstrated their passion for the Super Mario Bros. franchise," Scott Moffitt, a Nintendo of America executive, said in a statement. "The Gold Classics Pack is just one small way for us to thank players for their dedication. We're all eager to see just how high that coin tally can get."

Watch this presentation of Nintendo Direct to see a preview of the levels included with the free Golden Classics level pack download.

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Crave contributor Christopher MacManus regularly spends his time exploring the latest in science, gaming, and geek culture -- aiming to provide a fun and informative look at some of the most marvelous subjects from around the world.
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